For the health of your gums as well as the remainder of your body, the proper ratio of minerals and vitamins is required. The greatest approach to obtain nutrition is always through a balanced diet, but many people have fallen short in this regard and need dietary supplements to make up for it.
Your gum tissue is in charge of sealing tightly around your teeth and acting as a defense against bacterial illness. You can maintain good oral hygiene by eliminating food particles from the area around the teeth and gums by brushing your teeth right after meals and flossing on a daily basis.
In addition to holding your teeth in place, your gums have numerous other functions. Because bacterial illnesses from the gums may enter your bloodstream, having healthy gums can result in a healthy body. Heart issues and stroke have also been linked to gum disease. You can often tell how healthy someone is by the condition of their gums.
We spoke to local Kelowna dentist Dr. MacRae, and compiled a list of the best vitamins and minerals that you can use to improve your gum health.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A helps to activate your salivary glands, which is fantastic for your teeth and gums. This benefits the health of your mouth as a whole since the moisture in your mouth serves to wash away plaque and bacteria. It’s beneficial to keep a moist mouth since gum disease might develop when the mouth is dry. You can consume eggs, spinach, kale, peppers, and oranges to obtain vitamin A.
B vitamins
You should take care of your mouth’s soft tissues, especially your gums, as they are equally as vital as your teeth. Vitamin B may help you with this. Niacin B-3 and riboflavin B-2 are particularly beneficial for oral health. They are excellent because they aid in the reduction of sores and inflammation, such as swollen gums and oral canker sores. Your healthy gums indicate that, for the most part, your body is healthy. Almonds, spinach, dairy products, red meat, and legumes are all sources of vitamin B. Moreover, B17, also known as amygdalin or laetrile, is found in bitter apricot seeds and has even been suggested to have anti-cancer properties. You can easily buy these supplements online, just remember to get a good quality brand!
Vitamin C
The immune system is greatly aided by vitamin C, which naturally also benefits your teeth and gums. Vitamin C has several advantages, but its ability to maintain the tendons and ligaments in the mouth is the key one that promotes dental health. You become more susceptible to gum disease, also known as periodontitis, when your body has low vitamin C levels. This results in swelling and bleeding gums as well as some of the teeth being loose. Many foods, including berries, citrus fruits, peppers, and kale, contain vitamin C.
Vitamin D
Many people lack vitamin D, which hinders them from effectively absorbing calcium. You won’t be capable of absorbing all the vitamin C you consume if your body is deficient in vitamin D. Just 15 minutes a day of sun exposure can significantly raise overall vitamin D levels. A quick and simple approach to get your recommended daily intake of vitamin D dairy items like milk and yogurt are among the foods high in vitamin D that you can consume.
Vitamin E
Researchers have discovered a link connecting vitamin E and preventing gum disease. This is because vitamin E has incredible anti-inflammatory qualities. Consuming a large amount of vitamin E may reduce oral inflammation and guard against oxidative stress. Good foods including nuts, salmon, seeds, avocado, wheat germ, and nuts contain vitamin E.
Potassium
Blood clotting, which is necessary for healing from any injury, is made easier by potassium. You must have potassium for the wound to heal if you chance to harm your gums in any manner, whether it’s through an accident or just from brushing and flossing. Because it prevents demineralization, the process of taking minerals out of your teeth, potassium is also excellent for strong bones. Consequently, you have bright, healthy teeth! Numerous fruits and vegetables, including bananas, spinach, oranges, potatoes, pumpkin, and peas, contain potassium.
Iron
Without adequate iron in your diet, staying healthy is practically impossible. This mineral is essential, but frequently we don’t realize how significant it is until our bodies are deficient in it and we start to feel unwell. When our iron levels are low, we may experience headaches, weakness, and fatigue. The red blood cell count is maintained at a healthy level by iron. However, lack of iron in the diet can also have an impact on dental health because it can promote inflammation and serious gum disease. In addition to all this, low iron levels can cause tongue inflammation and mouth ulcers. Green foods including spinach and broccoli contain iron. They are also present in beetroot, eggs, and brown rice.
Calcium
We are aware of the importance of calcium for teeth and bones whenever we consider bone health. The body will begin removing calcium from the bones and teeth if we don’t consume enough of it, which might result in tooth decay and weak teeth. Gum disease can also be caused by a calcium deficiency, so make sure your diet has enough of it. The majority of dairy products, including milk and yogurt, as well as green leafy vegetables, sardines, and almonds, include it.
Phosphorus
Calcium requires vitamin D in addition to phosphorus for adequate absorption in order to function in your body. Phosphorus, which is present in red meat, yogurt, beans, and nuts, is therefore crucial.
Final Words
For outstanding oral health as well as overall wellness, proper nutrition is crucial. Your diet’s essential vitamins and minerals will aid you in achieving this. You could have a healthy physique and a beautiful smile with the right planning and dedication. You can take supplements to improve your intake of these necessary vitamins and minerals in addition to including them in your diet to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Make sure, nevertheless, that you solely follow your dentist’s advice.
It’s crucial to consume these vitamins and minerals. Avoid over-the-counter vitamin supplements, though. The amount of a certain vitamin or mineral that is stated in a capsule may be inaccurate because the Food and Drug Administration is not permitted to evaluate vitamins for safety or accuracy prior to their release into the market.